The owners of a shooting range in Shropshire have lost a legal battle for compensation after claiming an overzealous Health and Safety inspector intimidated them into carrying out an unnecessary reconstruction of their site.

David and Mari Ryan, who run Minsterley Ranges, near Shrewsbury, claimed they spent at least £150,000 altering one of their ranges.

They said this was after ‘oppressive, threatening and irrational’ inspections recommended changes which were later found to be ‘entirely unnecessary’.

They wanted Shropshire Council to pay them back the costs of the work, as well as stumping up £50,000 in ‘exemplary’ damages.

But the case was rejected yesterday by top judge Mr Justice Mackay, who ruled that Mr Ryan had reacted too quickly to the advice of the inspector, which was made on the best information available at the time.

The judge said Mr Ryan claimed Mr Worthington had a ‘confrontational’ demeanour in 2002, adding: “He was making exaggerated and irrational comments about the ranges.

“He was constantly referring to the powers he possessed.”

But colleagues described him as a ‘very thorough and an advocate for health and safety with a very high workload’, the judge said.

Mr Worthington made a number of criticisms of the range in 2002.

The Ryans said they spent £5,000 adjusting the range to meet the findings.

Mr Worthington returned several times in 2005 after a neighbour said she was struck in the face by falling shot and a farmer’s son said he was hit and made to cry when shot hit him as he was tending sheep.

A fuller report into the range made after a more detailed examination of the site later found changes were not necessary, but by then the Ryans say they had already committed to a £150,000-plus reconstruction of the site.

Mr Justice Mackay ruled: “His only motivation was a proper concern for the safety of the firing range.”